MP Ruhullah accuses CM of ignoring voter mandate, cosying up to BJP

Srinagar, Oct 26: National Conference Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah on Sunday accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of sidelining the party’s promise of restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and cosying up to the BJP-led central government.

Speaking at the 4th Halla Bolle Conclave at Radisson Collection, Srinagar, Ruhullah said the pre-election fight for the restoration of people’s rights has now been abandoned.

“If normalising relations with Delhi was the purpose that should have been told to the people during elections,” he said.

Ruhullah said that while it could be argued that routine governance might delay some decisions, much that could have been done in a year has not been addressed.

“Now is the time for the party to introspect,” he said.

The Member of Parliament expressed shock over CM Omar’s remarks on the reservation issue, calling them “shocking” and “arrogant.”

“People voted in 2024 for a government that would listen to them after years of subjugation. Yet the CM says, ‘I’m not afraid of the people.’ He should have said this to Delhi, not to those who elected him,” he said.

Ruhullah urged CM Omar to use the same firmness against the BJP as he does toward the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He also criticised the NC government for its handling of governance issues.

“Last year we promised to remove smart electricity meters, but now, in power, we are supporting them too,” Ruhullah said.

He said that he could not campaign for the NC candidate in the Budgam bypoll because he could not justify the party’s “volte-face” after coming to power.

The Member of Parliament also highlighted the party’s shift in stance regarding Delhi.

“Before the elections, we accused other parties of having ties with the BJP and supporting the August 5 decision. Now the NC is doing the same, following what BJP allies had advocated earlier,” he said.

Ruhullah emphasised that the reservation issue should have remained a government priority, but nothing concrete has been done.

Rejecting criticism that his Lok Sabha victory came only because of the NC’s symbol, he said, “If winning was only about the party, then why did NC lose Baramulla by more than 2 lakh votes? The people of Srinagar voted for conviction and clarity, not convenience.”

CM Omar had lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Baramulla to independent candidate Engineer Rashid by a huge margin.